09/14/2026
🇺🇸 What an incredible piece of Revolutionary history — with a Greensboro connection! 🇺🇸
The NSDAR Americana Collection has received a remarkable new treasure: the 1775 Captain’s Commission of Revolutionary War Patriot Samuel Ward Jr., signed by none other than John Hancock!
Samuel Ward Jr. was only 19 years old when he was commissioned as a Captain in the Rhode Island militia. He later participated in the attack on Quebec, was captured by the British, returned to military service after his release, and ultimately rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
And here is the part that makes this story especially interesting to those of us in Greensboro, North Carolina: this historic document was loaned to the Greensboro Historical Museum in 1977! Loaned by the Ward Family. Guilford Battle Member Tanya Ward Feagins and husband David commissioned it to NSDAR.
Now, as we commemorate America’s 250th Anniversary, this extraordinary document has found a permanent home in the NSDAR Americana Collection, where it can help preserve and tell the story of the men and women who helped create our nation.
This is what DAR does so beautifully — Historic Preservation, Education, and Patriotism. ❤️🤍💙
Take a few minutes to read this fascinating story. What a treasure!
One of the most famous signatures on the Declaration of Independence – and the largest – is John Hancock's. As the president of the Second Continental Congress Hancock was also responsible for signing military commissions, including a captain's commission for Samuel Ward Jr., signed July 1, 1775...